CPAP when you're congested

[lilou]

Do you keep using or take a break with your CPAP when you're sick- sore throat, runny nose and congested?

I kept at it the first three days but woke with an even sorer throat and it was hard to breathe since I have a runny nose. I've heard some people just don't use their CPAP during being sick and congested because it also adds more germs to the CPAP device and they feel worse from not sleeping well.

What do you all do when you've got a runny nose, congestion and sore throat from being sick? Keep at the CPAP? Take a break? Make modification (if possible)?

[palerider]

Do you keep using or take a break with your CPAP when you're sick- sore throat, runny nose and congested?

I kept at it the first three days but woke with an even sorer throat and it was hard to breathe since I have a runny nose. I've heard some people just don't use their CPAP during being sick and congested because it also adds more germs to the CPAP device and they feel worse from not sleeping well.

What do you all do when you've got a runny nose, congestion and sore throat from being sick? Keep at the CPAP? Take a break? Make modification (if possible)?

Only dumb people use being sick as an excuse not to use cpap.

Alternative version for the easily offended: "Not using cpap while sick is ill advised, since not using cpap will reduce the rest you need to help fight off when you're sick."

[Pugsy]

I treat the symptoms just like I would if I didn’t use a Cpap.
Meds for whatever.....runny nose, congestion, cough etc.
If a hot steamy shower helps the nose the crank up the humidity setting.
In over 9 years of therapy I haven’t ever needed a full face mask even. Never not used Cpap because of a upper respiratory infection. In fact most often when I have has a cold I wake up with a clearer nose than I went to bed with.

Oh...those germs you worry about....they are already on everything anyway. Touching , coughing, sneezing, etc....already sharing the bugs and as with most viruses....once you have it you will be immune to that particular bug.
Common sense cleaning with soap and water will I’ll them anyway.
Mainly the mask needs cleaning but more from the yuck factor than germ factor. Snot, slobber, coughing up yuck stuff....that sort of yuck factor.

Some people who use a nasal interface mask will keep a full face mask in the drawer just in case they can’t get the nose open well enough to move air. I have one....never needed it though.

Only time I have not used Cpap has been when I had some sort of stomach bug and the milliseconds needed to remove the mask would make a difference between making it to the bathroom or cleaning up a mess in the floor at 3AM. Most of the time if I was that sick I wasn’t sleeping anyway.

[lilou]

Thank you Pugsy- sounds like I should just keep trying despite being congested, and keep treating the symptoms. Thank you.

I treat the symptoms just like I would if I didn’t use a Cpap.
Meds for whatever.....runny nose, congestion, cough etc.
If a hot steamy shower helps the nose the crank up the humidity setting.
In over 9 years of therapy I haven’t ever needed a full face mask even. Never not used Cpap because of a upper respiratory infection. In fact most often when I have has a cold I wake up with a clearer nose than I went to bed with.

Oh...those germs you worry about....they are already on everything anyway. Touching , coughing, sneezing, etc....already sharing the bugs and as with most viruses....once you have it you will be immune to that particular bug.
Common sense cleaning with soap and water will I’ll them anyway.
Mainly the mask needs cleaning but more from the yuck factor than germ factor. Snot, slobber, coughing up yuck stuff....that sort of yuck factor.

Some people who use a nasal interface mask will keep a full face mask in the drawer just in case they can’t get the nose open well enough to move air. I have one....never needed it though.

Only time I have not used Cpap has been when I had some sort of stomach bug and the milliseconds needed to remove the mask would make a difference between making it to the bathroom or cleaning up a mess in the floor at 3AM. Most of the time if I was that sick I wasn’t sleeping anyway.

[lilou]

What a judgmental, unhelpful response! Very odd that you responded the way you did (name calling and all). I'm a fairly new CPAP user and this is the first time I've been congested with a stuffed up nose and trying to figure out what to do with treatment. If you don't have any helpful advice please do not respond. Thank you.

Do you keep using or take a break with your CPAP when you're sick- sore throat, runny nose and congested?

I kept at it the first three days but woke with an even sorer throat and it was hard to breathe since I have a runny nose. I've heard some people just don't use their CPAP during being sick and congested because it also adds more germs to the CPAP device and they feel worse from not sleeping well.

What do you all do when you've got a runny nose, congestion and sore throat from being sick? Keep at the CPAP? Take a break? Make modification (if possible)?

Only dumb people use being sick as an excuse not to use cpap.

[palerider]

What a judgmental, unhelpful response! Very odd that you responded the way you did (name calling and all). I'm a fairly new CPAP user and this is the first time I've been congested with a stuffed up nose and trying to figure out what to do with treatment. If you don't have any helpful advice please do not respond. Thank you.

Only dumb people use being sick as an excuse not to use cpap.

Hey, it's a fact. Do what you have to do to decongest yourself... I personally turn to Afrin (only at night so I don't get 'addicted'), and sudafed if needed... I haven't gone without cpap in 9 years, since the day I started.

Don't be dumb, find a way to use your cpap.

[Julie]

And some people find lowering or even turning off the humidity helps becasuse it can cause worse congestion if added humidity is not actually needed in your local climate.

[palerider]

And some people find lowering or even turning off the humidity helps becasuse it can cause worse congestion if added humidity is not actually needed in your local climate.

I usually *raise* the humidity when I'm congested, because, like a warm steamy shower, it seems to help loosen the crud, and help me breathe better.

ymmv, batteries not included, contents may be hot, other standard disclaimers apply.

[dreamingofdreaming]

What a judgmental, unhelpful response! Very odd that you responded the way you did (name calling and all). I'm a fairly new CPAP user and this is the first time I've been congested with a stuffed up nose and trying to figure out what to do with treatment. If you don't have any helpful advice please do not respond. Thank you.

You can click on that person's profile and click on "add foe". After that you won't see any of their posts. I don't care for that person either.

[chunkyfrog]

I have never needed to skip cpap.
I don't think I could sleep without it.
Nasal sprays and breathe right strips have helped me.
A full face mask may help if the nose is hopelessly stopped up.
The worst choice would be not using the cpap.
That could kill you.

[Bookit]

As a fairly new cpap user, I'm learning the tricks right now. My whole family is sick.

I am using Dayquill/Nyquill, saline nasal spray, and occasionally Afrin (one nostril per night). My nose was running like crazy, so I needed the Nyquill to dry it up. So far I'm able to breathe fine. All the air pressure keeps me opened up once I get started. The prep before bed is crucial.

[realshelby]

What a judgmental, unhelpful response! Very odd that you responded the way you did (name calling and all). I'm a fairly new CPAP user and this is the first time I've been congested with a stuffed up nose and trying to figure out what to do with treatment. If you don't have any helpful advice please do not respond. Thank you.

Yes, the "Foe" button. Works well for eliminating certain things. Shame to lose some good knowledge, but not worth the cost to get it......

[jnk...]

My position on the wisdom of skipping CPAP for a URI is that it depends on how severe the OSA is. In my case, I believe I would be risking my life to go without CPAP in supine REM for even one night. But for someone with a very low untreated AHI, I mostly agree with the suggested approaches in the following info from ResMed: https://osahub.resmed.com/using-your-cp ... realsleep/

[lilou]

Thank you all. I'll try a lot of "prep" to clear congestion before going to sleep.

[Cpapian]

Do you keep using or take a break with your CPAP when you're sick- sore throat, runny nose and congested?

I kept at it the first three days but woke with an even sorer throat and it was hard to breathe since I have a runny nose. I've heard some people just don't use their CPAP during being sick and congested because it also adds more germs to the CPAP device and they feel worse from not sleeping well.

What do you all do when you've got a runny nose, congestion and sore throat from being sick? Keep at the CPAP? Take a break? Make modification (if possible)?

I recently had a cold that became pneumonia and I stopped using my machine for a couple of nights until the antibiotics kicked in. I'm allergic to pretty much all cold medication. I found the air was irritating my throat causing 45+ minute coughing spells. The night became a vicious circle of 45 minutes of sleep followed by 45 minutes of coughing. My throat was raw, my sides and abdomen in pain with pulled muscles from all the coughing. Discontinuing the machine allowed me to get about 4 hours of sleep at a time, which also meant way less coughing.

When I was able, I returned to the machine.

So my advice (fwiw) is to listen to your body, figure out what is best for you. Getting better is equally important.